Malaysians mock all-male circus act for conservative north

The state, governed by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) since 1990, imposes strict rules on entertainment, including bans on pubs and discotheques and prohibitions on any activity deemed to clash with the tenets of Islam.

“For the first time, the Great British Circus will present an exclusive performance with only male artists,” the circus said in a Malay-language promotional post on its Facebook page on Monday.

The circus, which has toured Malaysia regularly for 10 years, moves on to Kelantan after a month of putting on shows with both male and female performers in neighbouring Perlis.